nitka



Feb. 27, 1934. J. H. NlTKA 1,949,26

FUEL SAVER Filed Dec. 1, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l bl-l Inventor 01? fyz'z li'a/ flllorney Feb. 27, 1934. J H, NlTKA 1,949,026

FUEL SAVER Filed Dec. 1, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FUEL SAVER John H. Nitka, St. Louis, Mo.

Application December 1, 1932. Serial No. 645,302

3 Claims. (Cl. 126-307) The present invention relates to a fuel saver for use particularly in connection with the burners of domestic hot water heaters of the kitchen type and has for some of its objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, reliable in operation, compact, which may be expeditiously installed for operation on a conventional burner or heater Without materially altering said burner or heater structurally and which may be manufactured at low cost.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a fuel saver of the character set forth embodying a novel construction through the medium of which economy in fuel consumption is accomplished by materially increasing the efliciency of the heater or burner.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a fuel saver of the character described of such construction that the device will also function as a ventilator and fiue cooler when installed above a burner or heater.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of refer-- ence designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, showing a fuel saver in accordance with the present invention installed for operation on a conventional water heating plant.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the device, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in bottom plan of the drum.

Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of the check.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it Will be seen that the embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises a metallic drum which is designated generally by the reference numeral 1, said drum, including oppositely arranged upper and lower frustums 2 and 3, respectively, which are connected, as at 4.

Extending downwardly from the lower frustum 3 is a pipe section 5 which encircles the neck 6 which rises from the top of the heater which is designated generally by the reference numeral 7. The upper portion of the pipe section 5 extends into the frustum 3 and has formed therein an outwardly pressed bead 8 upon which said frustum 3 rests. The portion of the pipe section 5 which extends into the frustum 3 is flared, as at 9, for securing said pipe section in the frustum 3. The formation of the bead 8 provides an internal channel or groove 10 in the ac upper portion of the pipe section 5.

Rising from the top of the frustum 2 is a neck 11 which is encircled by the lower end portion of the flue 12. The flue 12, as will be apparent, rests on the upper portion of the frustum 2. It will thus be seen that the fuel saver constituting the present invention is interposed between the flue 12 and the heater 7.

Mounted in the pipe section 5 is a floating check which is designated generally by the reference numeral 13. The check 13 comprises a metallic disk 14 of a diameter less than that of the pipe section 5 and having a central opening 15 therein. Rising from the periphery of the disk 14 are integral arms 16 which terminate in outwardly inclined free end portions 17 which are engageable with the flared portion or flange 9 of the pipe section 5 for supporting the check in position therein. The arms 16 also constitute guides for the disk 14.

In operation, the member 13 retards the escape of the heat from the burner 7 through the flue 12, thus giving said heat more time in which to heat the usual coils in the heater 7. However, if an excessive pressure occurs in the heater 7, due to the flame being too large, or for any other reason, the excess pressure of the'products of combustion will raise or tilt the member 13, so

that this member or a part thereof will enter 60 is thus drawn into the flue 12 prevents overheat- 10 ing of said flue. On one side, the drum is substantially flattened, as at 19, to accommodate the adjacent pipe 20.

It is believed that the many advantages of a fuel saver in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:--

1. A fuel saver comprising a drum for connection with a flue, said drum including upper and lower relatively reversed frustums connected with each other at their enlarged ends, the lower frustum having openings therein, a pipe section depending from the lower frustum, and a check member movably mounted in the pipe section and adapted to be moved upwardly into the lower frustum by excess pressure in said pipe section.

2. A fuel saver comprising a drum including upper and lower frustums connected together at their large ends, the lower frustum having openings therein, a pipe section connected to the lower end of the lower frustum and depending therefrom, said pipe section extending in to said lower frustum and including an external bead engaged with said lower frustum and further including a flared end portion engaged in said lower frustum, and a floating check member mounted for longitudinal movement in the pipe section, said check member including a disk of a diameter less than the diameter of the pipe section, said disk having a central opening therein, arms extending longitudinally from the periphery of the disk, and out-turned free end portions on the arms engageable with the lower frustum for supporting the check member therein said check member being adapted to be moved upwardly by excess pressure in the pipe section. 3. In combination with a heater, a pipe section connected with the top of the heater and receiving the products of combustion therefrom, a drum of greater diameter than the pipe section and having a reduced lower end to which the upper end of the pipe section is connected, said reduced part of the drum having openings therein, a check plate located in the pipe section and of considerably less diameter than the pipe section, spaced upwardly extending members connected at their lower ends to the periphery of the plate and having their upper ends bent to rest upon portion of the lower end of the drum, said plate with its spaced members being adapted to be moved upwardly into the reduced part of the drum by excess pressure in the pipe section and heater to permit the excess pressure to escape.

' JOHN H. NITKA. 

